Quakers and Animism

The Religious Studies scholar Graham Harvey defines Animists as ‘people who recognise that the world is full of persons, only some of whom are human, and that life is always lived in relationship with others. In the first part of the session, Friends will be introduced to forms of animism found among contemporary indigenous communities.

We’ll consider approaches to bodies, kinship, food and gift-giving. In the second part, learners will encounter forms of Friendly animism through the philosophy of the early Quaker Anne Conway and the sacred traditions of the Maragoli people of Kenya. This session will appeal to Friends who want to deepen their understanding of the different ways we can relate to the earth and other beings.

Throughout the evening, our speakers will seek to suggest ways learners can break down hard dichotomies between body and soul, human and the more than human, the artificial and the natural. Friends who work within environmental conservation, spirit-led earthcare, or ecological activism may also find the themes of the event especially resonant.